When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

A former soldier and dad-of-four has shared his incredible story of homelessness in a moving Christmas video encouraging people to reconnect with loved ones and never give up hope.

Gav Dawson, who just five years ago was sleeping in an abandoned war bunker and would walk a 9-mile round trip to see his children each day, has created the video to increase awareness of loneliness and suicide and raise money for the Armed Forces charity SSAFA.

The video, which features the old bunker at Seal Sands , where Gav slept rough for five months in 2014, has already been viewed and shared thousands of times on social media and raised over £680 within hours of being posted.

Set to the soundtrack of the emotive Memory, the four-minute film aims to encourage those feeling desperate or lonely, affected by homelessness or the impact of Army life, to reach out and reconnect with people in their lives.

(Image: Evening Gazette)

"They were the darkest days, but I never gave up hope that one day I would get my life back – and I did, with the support of friends and my ex-wife Michelle, I was able to fight back," said Gav, from Billingham .

The 48-year-old found himself homeless after he lost his job, when a female work colleague made false allegations against him.

He became embroiled in a case against his employer and subsequently against Cleveland Police for its handling of the allegations.

A tribunal found the allegations against him to be “untrue and malicious” and an appeal to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) found that he had been discriminated against in the handling of the case by the force .

"My life was turned upside-down," says Gav.

"I lost my job, I couldn't afford to live, I had to pay legal fees, I was depressed, I was anxious, I’d turned to drinking to blot out the pain and I felt suicidal.

Read More

Related Articles

Read More

Related Articles

Gav has four children, two he adopted when he married now ex-wife Michelle, and two they had together, Ethan now 14, and Maddie, 8.

Despite not being together when he was homeless, he credits her for her support.

"The children never knew how I was living. I’d walk the nine-mile round trip to see them, and Michelle did all she could to make sure they weren’t affected,” says Gav. “Maddie saw the bunker where I was sleeping in the video and said ‘how could anyone sleep there, daddy?’

“The days were long and filling the time was so hard. I’d naturally think of my old days in the forces and at war. Its hard to reach out to people when you’re at your lowest but it’s these very people who can get you through.”

Gav joined the Royal Engineers at the age of 16 and during his career served in Bosnia, the 1st Gulf War, Kosovo and Kuwait. He last served in 1999.

“The video raises awareness of how many ex-servicemen and women can feel after coming out of service. It can be hard adjusting to civilian life and many can suffer from anxiety, depression and PTSD," says Gav.

“I didn't actually have a dog when I was homeless, but I featured one in the video because you’re around a lot of working dogs when in military service and they’re a huge comfort. I know many rely on pets when they can’t reach out to people."

(Image: Evening Gazette)

Gav received a pay-out from his former employer after the tribunal and was able to get a house.

He set up his own business Skytographer Productions, now based in Middlesbrough , primarily creating videos of remembrance to play at funerals.

Gav decided to tell his own story in film this Christmas after coming into contact with a staggering number of people affected by suicide through his line of work.